Oh how I wish, wish, wish I had a picture of me, as I was 42 years ago, naked and chubby and sleepy... ignorantly at peace with the world! The closest I can get to that is to look upon this sweet image above. This is my daughter and she was just 6 days new. So pink! So squishy! So utterly perfect! Sigh. Unfortunately for me, being born the last of 7 girls left little time for my mother to snap photos of yet another baby, let alone create elaborate settings, set up studio lighting,  incorporate special props and finish with time-intensive post-processing for baby pics of lil' ol' me. In a way, being born last helped to solidify my desire to take pictures! (and you can read more about that here).

Since this day, I have been itching to do more and more Newborn Baby Love Sessions. I am done having babes of my own and I want more than anything to give new parents the gift of the past... because that is exactly what everything is... every moment, every hiccup, every roll of chub, every pouty lip, smile, tear and laugh becomes, the past. My dear daughter will be two this fall and I cannot believe the transformation. I am so glad I took the time to set up my studio, props and sets so that now I can stare up at my peanut with wonder and joy. It is so hard to recall the little details, the bumps and curves, the softness. Let's face it, the first 3 weeks (or 6!) of being home with a new baby is a blur at best!  I don't quite know how I called up the strength and energy to pull this off but in the back of my mind I knew that after day 10, newborn shoots are so-much-harder. They straighten out, they flail, they are more alert, less sleepy and they get that lovely newbie acne and craddle cap! It was a 'now or never' moment and we made it through to the other side. Although I have a ton of pictures of my first born son (a ton!), I was not in the full-on photo session phase of my photography and a lot of the pictures are, well... to be honest, dark, blurry, fuzzy messes! I treasure every single one of them but I am certain that in some distant future I will inevitably get the old, "Why don't I have nice baby pictures like my sister?" I'll keep you posted on that one!

Anyway, back to my birthday and a present for you (or someone you know!). In honour of everything sweet and good, I am putting out a casting call for newborn babes. If you or someone you know will be expecting a squishy package in late September or early October and truly wants those first looks captured to have forever to put up on their walls and in their wallets, get in touch with me ASAP! Click the "Contact" link at the top and send me an email detailing the expected date of birth, mother's name and phone number. I will accept up to 4 babies. Newborn shoots take A LOT of planning and prepping and the sooner I can make contact with the moms and dads to-be, the better. (I require at least one face-to-face meeting with the mom and/or dad prior to the shoot). Everything that is and is not included in these sessions will be discussed when we meet. No pressure, either. We will plan to meet for a coffee or tea or ice cream (your choice, my treat!) in a convenient spot somewhere and go from there.

Happy Birthday To Me!

enjoy the view,

Tanis